Betrayed by an alpha claimed by a lycan king

SAGE

Think, Sage, think!

72% +13

My mind raced as I paced the room, desperate to come up with a plan. The soft splash of water from the bathroom sent jolts of panic through me. Each sound reminded me that time was running out. He wouldn't be in there forever, and when he came out, I had no idea what would happen next.

My eyes darted to the windows-sealed shut, reinforced with steel bars that glinted mockingly in the daylight. I tested the hinges on the heavy wooden door, but it was locked tight, the handle cold and unyielding beneath my grip.

Frustration gnawed at me, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I scanned every inch of the lavish room. Ornate furniture, thick silk curtains, polished floors-everything screamed opulence but offered no help in my quest for freedom.

I tugged at the curtains, hoping for some hidden latch or weak point in the glass, but found nothing. My hands trembled as I searched the room once more, knowing I was wasting precious time.noveldrama

The water stopped.

I froze, my heart thundering in my chest. The silence from the bathroom was deafening, signaling that he was almost done. My pulse quickened as dread curled in my stomach.

No, no, I need more time!

But it was useless. No matter how hard I tried, there was no way out. My fingers curled into fists at my mingling with fear.

The door to the bathroom creaked open.

sides, frustration

I spun around, my breath catching as Titus stepped out, steam swirling around him like some dark, commanding force. His damp hair clung to his forehead, and water droplets glistened on his bare chest, highlighting every defined muscle. A towel hung loosely around his hips, but his piercing gaze was fixed solely on me.

"Looking for something, kitten?" he drawled, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stand tall despite the trembling in my legs. "Just... admiring the room."

His smirk widened as he stepped closer, the tension in the air thick enough to choke me. "Liar."

I clenched my fists, determined not to shrink under his gaze, though every instinct screamed at me to step back. Titus moved toward me with that unhurried confidence of someone who knew he held all the power in the room - because he did. My legs weakened as his scent drifted toward me, fresh from the shower, rich and masculine, stirring something inside me that I fought hard to ignore.

Droplets of water clung to his silver hair, glistening in the light before trickling down his temple and along the ridges of his chiseled chest. My throat went painfully dry as I found myself tracking the path of those droplets, each one a reminder of just how dangerously magnetic this man was.

"You're terrible at hiding your emotions," Titus murmured, amusement curling at the edges of his words. His voice was smooth, with a dark undertone that made my skin prickle. He stopped just a breath away, his presence overwhelming, soaking up all the air in the room. "I heard you pacing out here like a caged animal."

I tried to step backwards, hoping to put a space between us but the back of my legs were caught against the edge of the bed. I

forced myself to meet his gaze, determined to keep my expression neutral even though my heart was slamming against my ribs. "If I'm a caged animal, that makes you the one who put me here."

He chuckled softly, a dangerous, velvety sound that wrapped around me like a vice. "It is, indeed, I am. And what are you going to do about it?" he challenged me.

I clenched my jaw, trying to find some comeback, but I couldn't find any. "I'll do everything I can just to get out of this hell

His eyes darkened, the playful amusement in them giving way to something far more dangerous. For a brief moment, I regretted my defiance, but I refused to back down.

"You're feisty as ever, kitten," he said quietly, his voice soft but laced with a threat that made my pulse spike. But that mouth of yours might need some taming."

I swallowed hard, my breath shallow. He was playing with me, toying with my fear and defiance as though both were entertainment for him. But I couldn't let him see just how much he was getting under my skin.

My voice, though shaky, came out steady enough. "I doubt you're man enough to handle it," I taunted him, hoping my words can somehow bruised his huge ego.

His lips curled into a predatory smirk. "Oh, kitten," he murmured, stepping even closer, "you have no idea what I'm capable of."

On the contrary, I know exactly what he was capable of. That's why right now, I'm more afraid of what he might do to me after what I did. It also mean that I might have a hard time going back to my kids without him knowing my secret.

The air between us thickened, crackling with tension. His presence loomed over me, dangerous and intoxicating, and I hated that a part of me was drawn to it.

I squared my shoulders, determined to stand my ground. "How long are you going to keep me here?" My voice wavered slightly, but I pushed the tremor aside.

He tilted his head, his expression unreadable, though his eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and authority. "For a long as it's needed."

The sheer finality of his words made my chest tighten. "I can't stay here. I need to go back," I insisted, desperation creeping into my tone.

His gaze sharpened at my defiant plea. "Go back where?" he asked, his curiosity evident as suspicion flickered in his eyes. I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Too late, I realized I had opened a door I wasn't ready to walk through. My stomach twisted as his intense stare pinned me in place, waiting for an answer I wasn't sure I could give.

"I..." The words tangled on my tongue, panic rising as I tried to navigate the minefield I had stumbled into. Say nothing, Sage. Keep them safe. Don't let him find out.

Titus took a slow, deliberate step closer, his voice softer but no less commanding. "You are hiding something." His tone was deceptively calm, but the underlying threat was clear. He knew there was more to my story, and now I'd given him a reason to dig deeper.

I shook my head, feigning indifference. "I-I have no idea what you're talking about," I denied it, hoping to steer the conversation away from dangerous territory.

His eyes narrowed, as if he could peel back my defenses and see the truth buried beneath. "Why do I find it hard to believe, huh?" he commented, his tone dripping with skepticism. "What are you hiding that would make you so desperate to leave?"

T-1 just don't want to stay here. Why don't you get it? I left because I don't want to be with yout' I insisted stubbornly.

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper that sent chills down my spine. "Yet your body still reacts to my touch he whispered as his hand moved inside my skin before he slowly ran his hand against my leg, it didn't take long before his hand settled in between my thighs, inches away from the center of my femininity.

My breath hitched at the sudden contact, my skin prickling under the weight of his touch. Every nerve in my body screamed to resist, but my limbs betrayed me, trembling under the sheer intensity of his presence. I hated myself for reacting, despising the heat coursing through me even as every part of my mind demanded I pull away,

His hand lingered dangerously close to forbidden territory, his fingers grazing my skin with deliberate slowness. The air thickened, charged with a dangerous mixture of defiance and something far more treacherous.

"See?" Titus whispered, his breath warm against my ear. "Your body doesn't lie as easily as your mouth does, Sage" The smugness in his tone made my blood boil.

"You're delusional," I spat, shoving at his chest with all my strength. He barely moved, his solid frame an immovable force.

"I prefer determined," he corrected smoothly, withdrawing his hand-but not before something cold wrapped around my thigh.

A sharp gasp escaped my lips as I felt the strange sensation tighten around me. My fingers flew to the spot, and my heart raced when I touched cold, unyielding metal. My eyes widened at the sight of it-a ring-like charm, faintly glowing with ancient, pulsing runes. Dread washed over me in waves.

"What the hell is this?" I demanded, my voice shaking with anger and disbelief.

Titus straightened, his expression unreadable, though smug satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. "A precaution," he said simply, as though placing a magical tracker on someone was as casual as tying a ribbon. "You have a nasty habit of running, kitten. I'd hate to lose track of you again."

Panic surged through me as I clawed at the charm, desperate to yank it off. No matter how hard I pulled, it wouldn't budge. It felt as if it had fused to my skin, bound by magic stronger than any restraint.

"Take it off," I demanded, fury thick in my throat.

He shook his head, infuriatingly calm. "No."

"Titus-"I halted. "Your Majesty!"

"It's enchanted to keep you within my reach," he interrupted smoothly, folding his arms across his broad chest. "So don't bother fighting it. It won't come off until I decide it does."

His audacity made my blood boil. "You can't just-"

"I can, and I did," he said, his tone cold and absolute. "Consider it insurance. You're mine, Sage, whether you like it or not." Rage simmered beneath my skin, my fists clenching at my sides.

He tilted his head, his lips curling into a teasing smirk. "Already plotting your next escape, aren't you?" he guessed, his voice low and amused. "Good. I like a challenge."

I glared at him, my resolve hardening. "This isn't over," I ground out through clenched teeth.

His smirk deepened. "No, kitten. It's just beginning."

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I clenched my fists tighter, reminding myself who he was. He was fire, and getting too close would only burn me alive.

But the real question was, how long could I resist the flame?